10 



NATURE STUDY MADE EASY 



GERANIUM SLIP 



"slip" when she cut it down for the winter. 

 One day in early September she cut from 

 the strong, healthy plant two slips. Tom 

 and I stood by and watched her as she 

 slipped off the young shoots. First she pre- 

 pared a flower pot. She put in several small 

 pieces of china to form a drain and cover 

 the round hole at the bottom of the pot 

 and she almost filled it with loose, fine mold. Next she pre- 

 pared a place for the slip by pushing down into the mold a round 

 stick. Then she put in the new slip, and pressed the soil tightly 

 round it to hold it firmly, and to touch it at every point. After 

 watering it, she cut off the large leaves near the bottom of the slip. 

 Tom guessed the reason. 



"It is because the leaves would send off more water than 

 the plant could take up so soon," said he. 



" Quite right," replied Aunt Susan. "The plant wants help 

 at first until it has taken root." 



We placed it in a shady, dark, but warm 

 place and left it there. In about a week we 

 knew the little slip had begun to form root- 

 lets, for the leaves held themselves up to the 

 light, and a tiny new leaf was bursting from 

 a bud. We brought it into the sunlight and 

 all winter we watched it. It did not make 

 many new leaves, but it looked healthy. THE SL IP GROWING 



